Patient table with an impact resistance mechanism

ABSTRACT

This invention generally relates to a method of reducing effects impacts on a patient table, more particularly to a method of reducing the effects of impact on a patient table by transferring the energy of impact The method of reducing effects of low energy impacts on a patient table comprises transferring the energy of the impact from a region of impact to a rigid region. The method of transferring energy comprises providing at least one filling structure between a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and the second surface is a rigid surface. In an embodiment the wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and the second surface is a rigid surface of the patient table and the filling structure is configured to transfer the energy of impact from the flexible surface to the rigid surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to patient tables, more particularly amethod of reducing effects of impacts on a patient table, bytransferring the energy of impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A well maintained patient table is very essential in appropriate workingof medical diagnostic and imaging devices. However in a hospitalenvironment the patient table may be subjected to various impacts. Forexample, there are instances of other medical equipments impinging onthe sides of a patient table unintentionally. The patient table may behit on its sides or corners by the other equipments; or may be hit atthe bottom of the patient table by other medical equipments or devicesentering beneath the patient table. These types of impacts or collisionsresult in transfer of energy of impact to the patient table and causesdamages to the outer covers or side panels of the patient table, leadingto safety issues and/or loss of aesthetics. The quantum of energy ofimpact due to the impact may be small and may not cause an injury due toshock either to the patient or hospital staff, however will result indamage to the panels or side covers of the patient table. The damagecaused to the structure will result in exposure of sharp corners thatwould result in safety issues and/or edges or surfaces that have aragged appearance.

In general, to prevent the impact forces from causing damage, oneconcept adopted previously is to develop components that act as shockabsorbers. Either these shock absorbers absorb the energy of impactwithin the design loads or crash themselves when the impact forces arelarger than the design loads. They prevent the impact-forces fromgetting transferred to the structure. For example, in cars during headon collisions components like bumpers either absorb or collapse byabsorbing impact forces. There by the impact forces are not transferredto structure and thus saving the passenger in the car. Similarlypassenger trains are provided with components like bumpers andanti-collision tubes, which prevent impact forces being transferred topassenger compartment. These kinds of solutions are acceptable for highimpacts or blows. For compact devices it is not feasible to provideshock absorbers, which are bulky in size and relatively heavy.

Thus there exists a need to provide a solution to reduce the effect ofimpacts on patient tables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems areaddressed herein which will be understood by reading and understandingthe following specification.

The present invention provides a method of reducing effects of impactson a patient table. The method comprises: transferring the energy of theimpact from a region of impact to a rigid region of the patient table.The step of transferring the energy of impact may comprise providing afilling structure between the region of impact and the rigid region ofthe patient table. In an embodiment the region of impact is a flexibleouter panel of the patient table and the rigid region is an internalstructural member of the patient table, and the filling structure isdisposed between the outer panel and the internal structural member soas to transfer the energy of the impact from the outer panel to theinternal structural member.

In another embodiment, a method of transferring energy of an impact on apatient table is provided. The method comprises: providing at least onefilling structure between a first surface and a second surface of thepatient table, wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and thesecond surface is a rigid surface of the patient table. In an embodimentthe filling structure is configured to transfer the energy of impactfrom the flexible surface to the rigid surface. For example the fillingstructure in a patient table includes ribs or stiffeners.

In yet another embodiment, a patient table with an improved impactresistance mechanism is provided. The patient table comprises: aflexible surface provided as an outer cover of the patient table; arigid surface provided inside the patient table, at a distance from theflexible surface; a filling material provided between the flexiblesurface and the rigid surface, wherein the filling material isconfigured to transfer an energy of impact from the flexible surface tothe rigid surface.

In an embodiment the patient table is configured to be a MagneticResonance (MR) patient table. The flexible surface is configured to bethe outer cover or side panels of the patient table and the rigidsurface is configured to be an internal structural member of the patienttable, located near to the outer cover.

Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will bemade apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawingsand detailed description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is high level flowchart depicting a method of reducing effects ofimpacts as described in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a patient table with an impactresistant mechanism as described in an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of filling structure as describedin different embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of filling structure as described inan embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the effect of low energy impact on a patienttable due to side impact and corner impact respectively as in the priorart; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the effect of low energy impact on a patienttable due to side impact and corner impact using an impact resistantmechanism as described in an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical,electrical and other changes may be made without departing from thescope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment, a method of reducing effects of low energy impacts ona patient table is described. The embodiment is explained in the contextof a hospital or other healthcare environment. However the invention maybe applied to various patient tables in medical devices, householddevices such as Microwave ovens, Washing machines, etc to mention a few,but not limited to this. The patient table may be adapted for use withhuman patients, or with animal patients in a veterinary careenvironment.

In various embodiments of the invention a method of transferring energyof impact on a patient table is disclosed. However, it should be notedthat the invention is not limited to this or any particular applicationor environment. Rather, the technique may be employed in a range ofapplications, any electrical or mechanical devices, which may besubjected to only low energy impacts, such as hospital environment,domestic environment, etc to mention a few.

In another embodiment the invention describes a patient table with animpact resistance mechanism. The mechanism includes a filling structureprovided between a flexible outer surface and a rigid inner surface ofthe patient table.

FIG. 1 is high level flowchart depicting exemplary steps of a method ofreducing effects of impacts on a patient table as described in anembodiment of the invention. In an embodiment a method 100 of reducingeffects of low energy impacts on a patient table is disclosed. At block110, a patient table, which is subjected to low energy impacts, isprovided with a filling structure. The region of impact is subjected toimpacts or collisions. This may be at least one of the flexiblesurfaces, which is provided as an outer cover or side panels of thepatient table. The filling structure is capable of transferring theenergy of impact to a rigid region of the patient table. The rigidregion should be capable of handling the transferred energy of impacts.This may be any internal structural member of the patient table, whichis rigid in nature, located near to the flexible surface. At block 120,the energy of impacts is transferred to the rigid region through thefilling structure. This transfer of energy will avoid the direct impactof the energy on the flexible surface, thereby protecting the flexiblesurface from buckling and/or tearing.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a patient table with an impactresistant mechanism as described in an embodiment of the invention.

The patient table comprises a flexible surface and a rigid surface. Theflexible surface is as an outer cover or side panels of the patienttable and is not capable of taking mechanical loads. The flexiblesurface is generally subjected to impacts. The patient table comprisesat least one internal structural mechanical component or an internalstructural member, which is rigid in nature. The rigid surface should becapable of handling the energy of impact. Normally the energy of impactis transferred to the rigid surface located near to the cover. At leastone filling structure is provided between the flexible surface and therigid surface. The filling structure should be capable of transferringthe energy of impact from the flexible surface to the rigid surface ofthe patient table.

In an embodiment handling the impact forces due to medical devices orequipments on a patient table in a hospital environment is described. Inan embodiment, a patient table 200 comprises a flexible outer cover 210and a rigid internal structural member 220. Since the outer cover is nota part of the internal structural member 220, there is a gap or space orchannel 230 between these two. This gap 230 is filled with a fillingstructure 240, the filling structure being capable of transferring theenergy of impact from the outer cover to the internal support member.Different examples of filling structures are illustrated in FIG. 3 andFIG. 4.

In a patient table the impact can occur in three ways, namely, impact onthe sides or side impact, impact from the bottom or bottom impact andimpact at the corners or corner impact. Impact on the sides may occur byhitting the patient table with medical equipments such as anesthesiamachines, injectors or breathing machines. The impact from the bottomoccurs when the patient table is lowered without noticing the medicaldevices below the patient table or from the medical devices entering atthe bottom of the patient table and causing damage. The impact at thecorners mostly occurs for mobile medical imaging devices or equipments.While moving the patient table, the patient table corners may hit ondoorframes or walls and for a non-mobile medical equipments the patienttable may be hit by any other medical equipments. Hence, the patienttable in hospital environment is undergoing the un-intentional impactdue to medical devices and may undergo large deformations leading tocracks or breakages resulting in sharp edges or corners. The impact tothe patient table may also occur in other ways, and may occur in waysthat are unpredictable and unexpected. The impact resistance mechanismsdescribed herein are intended to prevent damage from any of these typesof impact.

In an embodiment the energy levels of the impact are relatively low, andare low enough to be handled by the rigid surface. The energy of impactswould be expensed in creating a permanent deformations or destruction ofthe side covers due to large deformation. This would result in sidepanels exposing sharp edges. However it will not affect thefunctionality of the product. In general it is observed that, thepatient table of the medical equipment in scanning rooms undergodifferent types of impacts. These impacts would not be intentional, butdetrimental to the product and safety, though not to the patient andhospital staff at the time of impact. The forces due to impact on sidesand corners are normally in the range of 1N-750N. In this case there isno sudden impact as in the case of a side impact or corner impact. Thepatient table is either lowered very slowly over any other medicalequipment or other medical equipments enter from the bottom of thepatient table very slowly. Hence, the forces that would act on thepatient table at the area of the medical device in contact with thepatient table is equivalent to weight of the patient table along withpatient weight.

However in different examples the force may be calculated based on theimpact handling capacity of the rigid surface of the patient table likeits cross section, its rigidity etc. This will also depend on the typeof possible impacts, like its energy, area of impact etc. It will alsodepend on the cross section of the flexible surface and the weight ofthe patient table as well as the patient. Thus the range of forcementioned above should not be taken as limiting as the design can beeasily varied based on the needs. The energy of the impact should belimited to the extent which the internal structural components ormembers to which the impact energy are transferred can withstand theenergy of impact.

In an embodiment, the patient table is provided with an outer cover orside panels, which is flexible in nature. In general, the outer cover ismade of sheet metal. The side panels or outer covers are provided in thepatient table for aesthetic appearance and also to prevent exposure ofstructural mechanical components or structural members in the patienttable. These outer covers or side panels are not intended for taking anymechanical loads and are not part of any structural member of thepatient table. Hence there are gaps between internal structural membersand the outer covers or side panels. In other embodiments, the flexibleouter cover is made of plastic or similar material.

In an embodiment the gaps or space or channel between the outer coverand the rigid structural members is filled by a filling structure. Thestructural members; include support members or mechanical components ofthe patient table. The filling structure is capable of transferring theenergy of impact to the structural members from the side panel or theouter cover. The filling structure acts as an impact or shocktransferor.

The filling structure includes any structure in any shape, which iscapable of transferring the energy of impact from the region of impactto the structural member. The filling structure includes structures ofany shape or corrugated sections made of metal or non-metal or sandwichof metal and non-metal like metal plate embedded inside rubber orpolymer. In different embodiments the filling structures include ribs orstiffeners.

The different patient tables may include patient tables of differentmedical imaging device such as X-ray imaging device, CT, MR, PET etc,but not limited to these.

In an embodiment the patient table is a mobile patient table.

In an embodiment a method of transferring energy of impact on a patienttable is disclosed. The method comprises: providing at least one fillingstructure between a first surface and a second surface of the patienttable, wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and the secondsurface is a rigid surface of the patient table. The filling structureis configured to transfer the energy of impact from the flexible surfaceto the rigid surface. The flexible surface is subjected to impacts andthe rigid surface is a surface nearest to the flexible surface capableof handling the energy of impact. In an example, low energy impact is ofenergy in the range of 1N-750N. However, other levels of energy ofimpact may be transferred in other embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of filling structure as describedin different embodiments of the invention. FIG. 3A illustrates athree-dimensional view of an example of a filling structure. The exampleis illustrated with reference to a patient table 200. A set ofstiffening sections 340 is provided on a gap 330 between a flexiblesurface 310 and a structural member 320 of the patient table. Thesections may be of any shape or corrugated and may be made of using anymetal or non-metal or sandwich of metal and non-metal like metal plateembedded inside rubber or polymer. First end 342 of the stiffeningsections 340 are welded or otherwise attached to the flexible surface310 or outer cover of the patient table. The second end 344 of thestiffening sections 340 are provided close to the structural member 320.The second end 344 is not welded or fixed to the structural member 320to take care the expansion of the filling structure 340, if any, duringthe impact. FIG. 3B illustrates a two-dimensional view of the fillingstructure. It is clear that the filling structure need not be of anyparticular shape, and a person of skill in the art will appreciate thatdifferent filling structures may be used to transfer the energy ofimpact from the flexible surface 310 to the structural member 320.

However in an embodiment the sections may not be fixed to the flexiblesurface. The gap between the flexible surface and the structural membermay be filled using any filling structure incorporated tightly in thegap. The shape, type, construction, position, etc. of the fillingstructure may vary depending on the design requirement.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of filling structure as described inan embodiment of the invention. The filling structure 440 is providedwith ribs 446 and stiffeners 448. The energy of impact will betransferred to the structure member through the ribs and stiffeners. Inan embodiment this filling structure 440 will contribute to reduce theimpact effects on the corners of the patient table.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the effect of low energy impact on a patienttable due to side impact and corner impact respectively as in the priorart. FIG. 5A illustrates the effect of side impact on the patient table.The side impact will mainly result in buckling or tearing of side panelsor outer covers of the patient table. FIG. 5B illustrates the effect ofcorner impact on the patient table. The sheets of the covers at thecorners deform independently upon an impact. This will result in tearingat the edges, cracking of the edges and protrusion of sharp corners oredges.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the effect of low energy impact on a patienttable due to side impact and corner impact using an impact resistantmechanism as described in an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6Aillustrates the effect of side impact on a patient table using theimpact resistance mechanism. The stiffness of the side panels areincreased by using the impact resistance mechanism and hence the sideimpact effects are reduced. FIG. 6B illustrates the effect of cornerimpact on a patient table using the impact resistance mechanism. Byproviding structural continuum the generation of sharp corners and edgesare avoided. It has been observed that “Shock Transferor” will preventany type of buckling or destruction of side panel or outer cover of thepatient table thus avoiding generation of sharp edges or corners. It hasalso been observed that “shock Transferor” will not make any permanentdeformation to the patient table structural member.

Thus the invention describes different embodiments of a method ofreducing effects of low energy impact on a patient table and a patienttable using this method. The method provides product safety and/oraesthetic enhancement by containing sharp corners or edges and improvesthe rigidity of the structure. Also the invention provides reliabilityimprovement of the product for unintentional impacts. The invention iseasily adaptable to existing mobile as well as stationary patienttables. Adapting the invention does not require any changes in theexisting design and configuration of the patient tables. Since theimpact resistant mechanism is of relatively low weight, incorporatingthe same will not increase the weight of the patient tablesignificantly.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certainsubstitutions, alterations and omissions may be made to the embodimentswithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, theforegoing description is meant to be exemplary only, and should notlimit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

1. A method of reducing effects of impact on a patient table comprisingthe step of: transferring energy of the impact from a region of impactto a rigid region of the patient table.
 2. A method of reducing effectsof impact as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of transferring energyof the impact comprises providing a filling structure between the regionof impact and the rigid region.
 3. A method of reducing effects ofimpact as claimed in claim 2, wherein the filling structure isconfigured to transfer the energy of the impact on the region of impactto the rigid region.
 4. A method of reducing effects of impact asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the filling structure includes at least onerib.
 5. A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in claim 3,wherein the filling structure includes at least one stiffener.
 6. Amethod of reducing effects of impact as claimed in claim 3, wherein theregion of impact is a flexible outer cover of the patient table andwherein the rigid region is an internal structural member of the patienttable, and wherein the filling structure is disposed between the outercover and the internal structural member so as to transfer the energy ofthe impact from the outer cover to the internal structural member.
 7. Amethod of reducing effects of impact as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepatient table is a magnetic resonance (MR) patient table.
 8. A method oftransferring energy of impact on a patient table, comprising the stepof: providing at least one filling structure between a first surface anda second surface of the patient table, wherein the first surface is aflexible surface and the second surface is a rigid surface.
 9. Themethod of transferring energy as in claim 8, wherein the fillingstructure is configured to transfer the energy of impact from theflexible surface to the rigid surface.
 10. The method of transferringenergy as in claim 9, wherein the filling structure includes at leastone rib.
 11. The method of transferring energy as in claim 9, whereinthe filling structure includes at least one stiffener.
 12. The method oftransferring energy as in claim 8,wherein the flexible surface is anouter panel of the patient table.
 13. The method of transferring energyas in claim 8, wherein the rigid surface is an internal structuralmember of the patient table.
 14. The method of transferring energy as inclaim 9, wherein the filling structure is configured to transfer energyof impact in the range of 1N-750N.
 15. The method as in claim 8, whereinthe patient table is an MR patient table.
 16. A patient table with animpact resistance mechanism comprising: a flexible surface provided asan outer cover of the patient table; a rigid surface provided inside thepatient table, at a distance from the flexible surface; a fillingmaterial provided between the flexible surface and the rigid surface,wherein the filling material is configured to transfer an energy ofimpact from the flexible surface to the rigid surface.
 17. The patienttable with an impact resistance mechanism as claimed in claim 16,wherein the filling material is configured to transfer energy of impactin the range of 1 N-750 N.
 18. The patient table with an impactresistance mechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein the patient tableis an MR table.
 19. The patient table with an impact resistancemechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rigid surface is aninternal structural member of the patient table.
 20. The patient tablewith an impact resistance mechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein thefilling material includes ribs or stiffeners.